[PAA-Discuss] Ask Producers of '24' to Stop Promoting Torture

[Juli3 at aol.com]

 (http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/)           
Dear  Juli, 
 
(http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/ptt_stop_torture/inu7e6s99ebiiwk?) The 7th season of "24" began Sunday  on The FOX Network. The program is 
essentially an hour long,  prime time advertisement for torture. 
_Please  join us in signing a letter to the Executive Producers  asking them 
to show torture in a more responsible  manner._ 
(http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/ptt_stop_torture/inu7e6s99ebiiwk?)  
The first four episodes of the program, which aired on  Sunday and Monday 
nights, appear to be designed to prove  that those who are on the front lines in 
the struggle to  stop terrorism understand that torture is an effective and  
necessary tool. 
_Watch  our review of "24" – a 3-minute video that examines the  first four 
episodes of Season 7._ 
(http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/ptt_stop_torture/inu7e6s99ebiiwk?)  
Here are some of the plot points: 
    *   An FBI agent who is presented as adamantly opposed to  torture drops 
her opposition soon after she is put in  charge of an investigation to stop 
terrorists from killing  thousands of Americans.  
    *   Jack Bauer, the hero of the show, delivers a  passionate defense of 
his use of torture while hero music  plays in the background. Later a U.S. 
security agent tells  Bauer that "it is wrong" that some people question Bauer's  
use of abusive interrogation tactics.  
    *   Several torture scenes depict torture being used by  Bauer and other 
"patriots" who supposedly have no other  choice. Every time the good guys use 
torture terrorists  immediately provide information. 
Obviously many of the more than 12 million people who  tuned in for the 
opening episodes are sophisticated enough  to understand that this is just TV. But 
the relentless  promotion of torture by "24" has already had an impact.  
Military educators report that "24" is one of the biggest  problems they have in 
their classrooms and junior soldiers –  even interrogators at Guantanamo Bay – 
have copied  techniques they have seen depicted on the program, according  to 
information gathered by journalists and Human Rights  First. 
We are concerned about the impact of "24" abroad as well.  The first six 
seasons were re-broadcast in dozens of  countries (including a number of countries 
in the Middle  East) where the program has undoubtedly reinforced negative  
stereotypes about U.S. forces and the way they treat  detainees. 
At a time when President-elect Obama is considering  action that will close 
the door on the sorts of abuse that  Bauer specializes in, we are urging "24" 
to stop promoting  torture. 
_Please  join us in sending a letter to the Executive Producers of  the 
program that encourages them to begin showing torture in  a more responsible 
fashion._ 
(http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/ptt_stop_torture/inu7e6s99ebiiwk?)  
Sincerely, 
David Danzig
Director, Primetime Torture Project 
PS We have made a training film for use in military  classrooms. The film 
features interviews with real-life  interrogators who explain that torture may 
work on TV but it  won't work in the field. Every time we show the film to  
soldiers, sailors and marines in training they ask the same  questions. "If 
Bauer's techniques don't work, what does? How  do you 'break' a hardened terrorist 
and get him to talk?" To  answer these questions as fully and powerfully as 
possible  we have decided to make a second training film that will  also feature 
real-life interrogators talking about their  methods rather than commenting on 
Bauer's. _Please  support the production of this film._ 
(https://secure.ga1.org/05/etn_ptt/nE7wfzi91GgrC?)    Those who contribute $250 or more to 
production will have  their names listed in the credit portion of the  film. 
 
____________________________________
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